Dear MRFF,
Blah, blah, blah…nice try!
Let’s check some facts here, shall we?
Is Congress even involved in this program? No.
Is Congress therefore attempting to establish a state religion? No.
Are YOU on the other hand stifling the “free expression thereof” when it pertains to the cadets’ faith. Yes.
To even attempt to convince me that I couldn’t have a better friend when it comes to defending my faith is ludicrous at best. All that you do is stifle the faith of others. How is it that cadets freely volunteering to distribute gifts to children somehow threatens anyone, or their faith? No command structure on ANY base is attempting to impose anything on anyone when it comes to their faith! Show me the written command ordering cadets to volunteer, to read the Bible, to attend mass or any other imposition of faith. You can’t and you know it.
(name withheld)
Dear (name withheld),
The US military is an arm of the government. Don’t be faslely naive here.
The cadets have nothing at ALL stifled. They can do this toy drive as individuals, simply not as an authorized military academy action. The Cadet cadre IS an authorized student group of the US military which our tax money supports. That makes it part of the command structure.
You and they and anyone can do this as individuals outside the formal structure of the Academy. That’s all. I’m sure you and other true believers will continue to support Mr. Graham’s blackmail and bribery of children in the name of Jesus. NOTHING is stopping you from that.
But MY tax money along with that of millions of real Christians and others of different ways of expressing faith will NOT be engaged in supporting the Cadets in supporting Samaritan’s Purse in its drive to wrangle souls for Mr. Graham’s empire.
Funny – the MARINES have found a great way to promote gifts for children without an iota of proselytizing – it’s the Toys for Tots campaign that they do annually. You could do that, but noooo – you support using the military to obtain toys to promote a religion. ONE SPECIFIC DENOMINATIONAL AND SECTARIAN VIEW. Not permitted. Nope.
Have as good a Christmas as you can. I hope very soon you find the real meaning in Jesus’ birth some day. It’s NOT empire building and enriching the coffers of manipulative false prophets.
Sincerely,
E.C. Sholes
